Tolman did an experiment where laboratory rats were reinforced for completing a maze.Each subsequent day, they ran the maze with fewer errors.On the 11th day of the experiment, Tolman flooded the maze with water, forcing the laboratory rats to use muscle movements that had never been reinforced.If the rats were building cognitive maps of the mazes, which result would you expect for their performance on the 11th day?
A)The rats should make the same number of errors they did on the first day of the experiment
B)The rats should make more errors they did on the first day of the experiment
C)The rats should continue to show a decrease in the number of errors, as they had done in the first 10 days
D)The rats should make more errors but run faster than on the first day

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tolman's theory of latent learning suggests that the rats were forming cognitive maps of the maze, even without reinforcement for specific movements. Therefore, even when the mode of movement changed (swimming instead of running), they could use their mental maps to navigate the maze more effectively than on the first day, continuing to show improvement.

Tolman Did an Experiment Where Laboratory Rats Were Reinforced for Completing